Old Mesilla

We picked up Auntie Joann yesterday and visitied Old Mesilla. It lies about 40 miles southwest of El Paso, and although I've been to this general area several times, and Julie and Joann grew up here, this is the first time any of us had seen this particular little town.

It enjoys a small place in the history of the area, having been for a brief time the capitol of New Mexico, as well as where Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to death. They roll the sidewalks up on Mondays so many of the shops were closed, but this was a blessing in disguise, since there were many fewer tourists than normal. (El Paso has the nation's largest Harley Davidson store, so I can just imagine the hordes of bikers that must descend upon the place during a normal business day.)

The place is an artist's community and has a distinctly up-market feel, in contrast to gritty El Paso. The few shops that remained open were generally upscale, with interesting and attractive art. We had lunch at the Double Eagle restaurant, situated in an old adobe building. As you walk in you pass through the Carlota Salon and into a (now glassed in) courtyard. The southwestern fare was quite good (and the margarita excellent) but the place wasn't very child friendly. Still, this is a type of archetecture that we find quite attractive and it is easy to see how the area has become a location for various films.

All in all a very pleasant day trip.